The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-09-21
NO., 4.
THE OLD CONSTITUTION.
The Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia
A Great Crowd Prescot.

ihe centennial Celebration in Philadelphia
A Great Crowd Prescot.
Thursday, the day fixed for opening the
celebration Of the centennial of the adop-
ton Of the Constitution, at Philadelphia,
dawned bright and clear The streets were
crowded at an early hour with the hun
tiIeds of thousands Of visitors who have
come to participate in or witness the cere.
monies attending the celebration. Visitors,
military and fremen have been pouring
into the city all day. The railroads have
been taxed to their utmost to accommodate
the crowds which are hockinc into the city.
Hotels are all filed, and some Of the guests
spent last night as best they could in i'm
pcovised beds. Every inch of space was
!llIcG with cots and other means Of tempo
raTy rest 10 accommodate the overflow
Calculation places the number CT visit
ors at 100000. Nearly every State and
Territory is represented. The buildings of
The city both public and private, are pro-
fusely decorated with flags and bunting,
and the city presents a gala appearance.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock the civic and in.
duStcial pageant started from Broad and
Dauphin streets and marched to Broad and
Moore streets, distance Of o little over
four miles, and then countermarched to
lhe starting point. Along the route con-
tinuous line of observation stands have
been erected, and these were filled at an
carly hour by thousands, who had paid for
The privilege of occupying seats Thou
sands Of others lined the sidewalks, and
windows of buildings and steps were fairly
packed with people.
Broad street was almost impossible, so
dense was the crowd gathered in the thor
oughfare as early as : O'clock, and the
efforts of the police to keep passage were
| almost futile This magnificent thorough
fare had been transferred into ar immense
amphitheatre by the combined efforts Of
the carpenters and decorators who had
Jeen busily engaged throughout the night
erecting aud decorating stands on both
sizes of the street. There was hardly a
house along the whole street that was not
decorated with flags.
Many buildings displayed statues Of "Co-
lumbia' surrounded by flags of all nations.
odd Fellows hall had q banner across its
front with the inscription, Spot where
franklin dlew Lightning from the Clouds
IL 1..552" Busis Of Washington were
mounted in font Of some houses with the
national emblem. The crush on some Of
tie stands were SC great that several
women tainted Three triumphal arches
span Broad and Chestnut streets. The
principal one is erected in front of the La
:aye;te Hotel, almost opposite the main re-
viewing stand, which will be occupied by
the Presidential party. The other two
arches are about thirty-five feet high. On
he summit Of one are the busts of Wash
i0gton, Lincoln, Grant and Cleveland. The
decorations that attract more than passing
note are those on the Young Mems Demo
cratic Association, the Adams Express
Company, the Lafayette Hotel, the Union
league Club. the ST. George Hotel and the
newly organized Art Club. The stands on
either size OF Broad street were filed with
people. and the gay colors worn by the
iGti;cs and children lent additional beauty
% The scene At 1925 q telegram flashed
over the temporary telegraph line con-
Structcd along the line of the procession,
announcing that the parade had started.
About II o'clock the distinguished guests,
governors, foreign ministers and Others BE-
can pouring Into their assigned places. As
the different Governors II passing to their
places were recognized they were heartily
applaudcd. TIE Constitutional Centennial
Commission was officially represented by
Hon. John 4 Casson, President; Hon.
LIMOS r. Little, Chairman of rhe Execu-
tive committee; Hampton L. Carson, Sec
rotary; F. G G. Brewster, Jr., Correspond
ag Secretary, ard Assistant Secretary
Black, who occupied seats on the front OF
tie grand stand, section \. The central
position of the stand was reserved for the
Governors and tleir stafIs. Among the
Governors present were: Sawyer, of New
Hampshire, Briggs, of Delaware, Green,
u New jersey, Larabee, OF Iowa, Gordon,
Of Georgia, and Beaver, Of Pennsylvania
On the stand were also Representatives,
from Congress, the commissioners from
other States, and other distinguished per
sonages. The seating capacity Of the stand
is 1000.
The procession was formed at l1.52, a.
II. One notable feature was az Indian
band of 10 pieces, preceding nine platoons
Of Indian cadets. There were floats to the
number of 300, each representing some
branch Of industry, with $50 bands, y, COO
men and 3 3,0G0 horses. Col. a. L. Snowden,
chief marshal, rode at the head Of the pro
cession. There were 90 divisions, each
commanded by an aide.
President Cleveland arrived at $50 in
the morning, and was appropriately wei
coined by Governor Beaver. EX-President
Hayes and Gen. Sherman were also present
The pageant, as ! whole, is conceded TO
have been the grandest ever seen IN this
country.